Lovely Bicycles.com  recently reviewed our two most popular panniers, the Burnside and InTrans.  Thanks so much for doing such a great job and taking those great pictures, you're terrrific!  Check out the review at Lovelybike.

Thanks for the kind report on or bags, UrbanVelo . It was a pleasure chatting with you guys

Made it back from the NAHBS show, it was a pleasure meeting so many great, enthusiastic people, and the bikes too....so many artistic builders out there. It was my first time in Austin and if there is ever a sister city to Portland then Austin must be it. Looking forward to the show next year in California.

Flying to Austin today to set up, mix and mingle. I'm really looking forward to getting input on our panniers and messenger bags from the folks at the show. The bags have come along way since we first unveiled them at the Seattle show almost 1 year ago. I can honestly say I am proud of the extra development I put into these. This is the first show where we will have so many styles represented-and, finally-panniers! I'm looking forward to meeting you at the show...

Readying for the really big show, NAHBS in Austin

http://www.2011.handmadebicycleshow.com/

We've been self employed forever, and have always discussed wanting to start our own charity, but not something that simply gives away stuff, a place that actually teaches a skill. You know, give a man a fish, you feed him for a day, teach hime how to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. It's been that philosophy, coupled with the awareness that, these days, it is rare to find anyone  that knows how to do anything skilled for themselves. That gave rise to the concept of the Industrial Arts Movement (IAM). My husband grew up on a farm, and I grew up less than privledged, so learning how to make and do things was mandatory. Using your hands to create, there is something magical about that. It can be something as simple as a loaf of bread, but learning how to do something gives us such a sense of fulfillment. We feel this is a lost art, and want to restore those traditions to new generations. It is our dream that the IAM will be a place for kids to learn the skills that generations before us had, woodworking, metalsmithing, etc. We also want to spotlight those folks that are still practicing those long lost traditions. Wouldn't it be great to have a place where retired folks are learning how to blog from the kids they are teaching how to use woodworking tools. There is so much potential there to change the world. We just need to get philosophy bags up and running first. Bye for now-Joan

I'm Joan, married to the mad genius that is Troy. We've been a team for 18 years, and it's never been dull, that's for sure. We are both the type of people that love creating new opportunities, it can drive you nuts at times, but can also be the best thing you've ever done. I'm the behind the scenes gal, the woman behind the man so to speak, establishing the procedures and protocol that make things run smoothly. Next to my husband and our daughter, my label maker is my most valued posession :) I'm excited to be starting a new business in this new wired world. Pictures and words can spread at the speed of light-it's so exciting to me! I'm looking forward to sharing the details involved in launching our latest line,  philosophy bags, then move on to the other lines we've got in mind.  Developing the Industrial Arts Movement will definitely be a labor of love, but totally worth it. I'm looking forward to the time when we can focus on building that into something that could quite possibly become the Cameron family legacy. More on that later. Thanks for listening-Joan  

First blog post ever. Ok, here goes...